Bato: Kerwin is ‘missing piece’ in drug trade puzzle

Alleged Filipino drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, center, listens to Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, right, as he is presented to the media upon arrival from Abu Dhabi early Friday, Nov. 18, 2016 at Camp Crame in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Espinosa, whose father Mayor Rolando Espinosa was killed inside his detention cell, told a news conference he will “tell all” those involved in the illegal drug trade in the country. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa said on Friday alleged drug kingpin Kerwin Espinosa is an important key to unraveling the illegal drug trade in the Philippines.

“Kerwin is like the missing link. He is like the missing piece of the puzzle,” Dela Rosa told reporters hours after he personally escorted Espinosa out of the plane that flew the suspected drug lord back to the country early on Friday from the United Arab Emirates where he was arrested last month.

“That is how important his role is. He could connect a lot of people [to illegal drugs],” Dela Rosa, standing beside Espinosa, said in a press conference at Camp Crame. “He is willing to tell all.”

Espinosa, allegedly the biggest drug lord in Eastern Visayas, is the son of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was killed by police inside the Leyte subprovincial jail early this month in a purported shootout with officers serving him a search warrant.

The suspicious killing of the mayor, who was linked to the illegal drug trade by President Duterte, is under investigation by the police, the Senate and the Supreme Court.

Dela Rosa said Espinosa will reveal “who his suppliers are, who are the distributors, upline and downline, his protectors, who benefited.”

He said Espinosa could confirm the involvement of high government officials in the illegal drug trade.

Asked whether those who benefited from Espinosa’s drug operation could go as high as Sen. Leila de Lima, Dela Rosa replied, “It could reach that level, depending on his affidavit.”

“But Kerwin has made some initial disclosures. Just don’t put those words in my mouth. All I can say is it would reach high up,” he said.

The PNP chief said Espinosa also supported some candidates during the May elections.

“He coughed up money during the campaign. He was approached [by politicians],” Dela Rosa said.

Espinosa, however, declined to say if he knew De Lima. “No comment,” he said when asked.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who visited Espinosa at the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) office, invited him to a Senate inquiry on Monday.

“He told me everything he knows,” Pacquiao told reporters. “I will not name names but I was surprised at those he mentioned—politicians, government officials and the like. He confirmed and was able to detail their activities, when he gave them [payoffs], what month or year.”

Addressing the President, Espinosa appealed for a chance to turn a new leaf.

“I ask forgiveness from President Duterte,” he said. “Whatever I have done in the past, I hope he can give me a chance to lead a new life.”

He assured Mr. Duterte he will reveal all he knows about the drug trade.

“In this situation that I am in now, and with my father gone, he can be assured that everyone involved in the drug trade that I know of, they will all be revealed, all their names,” Espinosa said.

Dela Rosa said Espinosa hasn’t seen his father’s affidavit, in which the late mayor allegedly identified 226 people involved in the drug trade, including high officials. The PNP chief said the AIDG will match the names to be disclosed by Espinosa with those identified by his father.

Espinosa was arrested in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 17. He said he fled the country to keep his wife and their children safe in the wake of Mr. Duterte’s antidrug campaign.

He said he passed through Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, then to Phuket and Bangkok in Thailand, and on to Hong Kong from where he flew to the UAE.

Traveling with Espinosa on the flight to Manila were members of the AIDG led by Chief Supt. Albert Ferro.

Dela Rosa brought Espinosa out of the plane in handcuffs and wearing a black bullet-proof vest.

The PNP chief assured Espinosa’s safety at the PNP Custodial Center.

“Kerwin is here, very much alive. He will not be killed,” Dela Rosa said.

Espinosa said he felt safe in the hands of officers from AIDG.

“I no longer fear the police,” he said. “I have seen how they have taken care of my safety from the time they took me from Abu Dhabi until we reached Crame. I feel very safe.”

However, Patrick Ceniza, a family spokesperson, said Kevin Espinosa feared for his brother’s safety in police custody.

Ceniza said Dela Rosa gave the same assurance to Espinosa’s father after surrendering to the PNP chief in August and executed an affidavit identifying 226 government and police officials and private individuals who were allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

“Kerwin may be safe today but what about tomorrow?” Ceniza quoted Kevin as saying. —WITH REPORTS FROM JEROME ANING, JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE, ROBERT DEJON, JOEY A. GABIETA, JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS AND AP